US 9,518,604 B2 · Fluid bearings

Abstract

The present invention provides improvements to a fluid bearing for a journal, one being a polymer bearing pad with an outer surface, at least one recess for receiving lubricating fluid from a base of the fluid bearing and distributing the lubricating fluid to the outer surface and a mount for securely mounting the polymer bearing pad to the base. Other improvements include a fluid bearing with the polymer bearing pad, steps for making the polymer bearing pad and fluid bearing, a fluid bearing with a polymer bearing pad having a chamfer and a multidirectional fluid bearing.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A bearing assembly for supporting a journal of a grinding mill body, comprising a frame and a plurality of fluid bearings, said fluid bearings each comprising a polymer bearing pad mounted to a base, said polymer bearing pad comprising an outer surface, at least one recess for receiving lubricating fluid from at least one passage of said base and distributing said lubricating fluid to said outer surface and mounting element for securely mounting said polymer bearing pad to said base, said base also comprising at least one lubricating fluid supply port in fluid communication with said at least one passage, wherein said base is mounted to said frame so that said fluid bearings self adjust to changes in the angular position of the journal during operation of said grinding mill body.

A multidirectional fluid bearing for a journal, comprising:

a base having a first surface orthogonal to a second surface, one or more lubricating fluid supply ports and a plurality of passages in fluid communication with said lubricating fluid supply ports, said first surface and said second surface,
a first polymer bearing pad mountable to said first surface, said polymer bearing pad having a first outer surface and at least one recess for receiving lubricating fluid from at least one of said plurality of passages and distributing said lubricating fluid to said first outer surface, and
a second polymer bearing pad mountable to said second surface, said second polymer bearing pad having a second outer surface and at least one recess for receiving lubricating fluid at least one of said plurality of passages and distributing said lubricating fluid to said second outer surface,
wherein at least one of said first and second polymer bearing pads comprises at least one opening for receiving at least one fastener for mounting said at least one polymer bearing pad to said base, wherein said at least one recess comprises a locking tab for retaining a head portion of said fastener within said at least one recess, said head portion being tapered to facilitate retention of said at least one fastener within said at least one recess by said locking tab, and wherein said at least one fastener comprises a bore for conveying lubricating fluid from said at least one passage to said at least one recess, said at least one fastener being partially received in said at least one passage.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid bearings

Life of this patent

Fluid bearings

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26